Episode 12: Trailer Loading the Difficult Loader

[WisconsinEquestrian1]

Where do you live? If you lived close it would be amazing if you could help me with my mare, she acts like the mare you have here and she is the first horse I've started training from scatch so... Any help you can give would be great.

[headovrheels2]

This is an excellent video! The way you broke it up into the zones and explained everything while being aware of the horses reactions and feelings is really great! I used to try to just pull my horse onto the float which could last up to 30 minutes but after trying this method, he was happily walking on and off the float numerous times within 5 minutes! Thanks so much for posting this :)

[AeronRiding]

@headovrheels2 You're welcome! : )

[lgriffin6]

I searched for quite a while to find a "reasonable" /gentle training video for trailering. Thank you so much for breaking down the steps and giving such clear instruction. We're starting a lesson program and must trailer to get there. And it's been a while since we've gone anywhere.

[InformatikPower]

Sorry for my questions, but i need to go for a 3 hour ride over the weekend by the 13th of august :) And i am a bit nervous about it. Thanks again Daniela

[InformatikPower]

I have heard about people doing some drives around the corner and back and before the first long ride they made two or three short ranges just in case to ride the horse home. Is this something you also do or not?

[AeronRiding]

@InformatikPower Yes, I would recommend a few short drives first. Go around the block and end up home again. That will let them know that all the noise and movement is no big deal. Make sure they are calm and quiet before you let them back off, and each time you start again. Happy trails!!

[InformatikPower]

What do you recommend, when you got a horse thats pawing, trampling and bucking inside when you arive after a few minutes ride. I would be concerned that the horse breaks the trailer or hurts himself. And just to get it right, do you mean by "and each time you start again" that after the short ride and backing off you motivate your horses to get in again and after standing quiet inside again you let them back out and the horses get their free time in the pasture? Thanks for your patience!

[AeronRiding]

@InformatikPower Don't let them off the trailer if they are misbehaving; they will only do it more! Wait till they are calm and quiet before undoing the butt bar. Then I would wait a few minutes, or walk around a bit, then come back and ask them to get back on, and then get back off. just to reinforce that it's a happy place to be and that you don't always go somewhere (you won't have to do this much after they get really good at loading) but at the beginning, always go slowly. : )

[InformatikPower]

Wow, this was a really fast answer, thank you very much! I made a note that i'll video it when trying with our horses and give you an videoanswer. Is there something special to know for the first "drive"?

[AeronRiding]

..... (continued) standing quietly and not pushing the butt bar, then I quietly undo it, and let them back off. Do this many times till they are calm about it. Good luck!!!

[InformatikPower]

Hi there, really great video and very nice explained! Think i got 1 or 2 still needed Puzzle-Pieces! Especially how to achieve, that the horse stays in the trailer for longer than 30 Seconds! I was just a bit sad, that the video about the but bar is missing. This is one thing i am a bit worried about, i would apreciate a hint :) Maybe per Mail it is daniela at (username) dot de :) Just made it a bit difficult for the Spammers :) Greetings from Good ol Germany keep up the good work! Daniela

[AeronRiding]

@InformatikPower Hi Deniela! I just let the horse rest in the trailer, and she stayed in there a little bit longer each time.. as she realized that was the "rest" place. Before I do the butt bar, I rattle the doors and the hinges and the butt bar to make noise... once they are comfortable with the noises and stay standing in the trailer on their own, I carefully close the butt bar. They might push against it once or twice, but usually by then they just accept it. After they are (continued above)

[GigoSunna]

Thank you so much for uploading this. We tried everything, and were about to give up going anywhere with her, then I found this video. It took me 15 minutes to get her on the first time, from a 'zone 3' horse to walking on herself, and within half an hour she loaded herself, no questions asked, and was very comfortable inside. I can't thank you enough for this video!

[Meretheeh]

Thanks for posting this, our pony was difficult to load, yesterday we trained with your method, and after a short time the pony loaded herself again and again, greetings from Norway !!

[AeronRiding]

@Meretheeh Yey! I'm glad it worked!

[Trilling0Fong]

Wow! Amazing video, i love how you stay so calm with the horse I really like the way you teach. WISH I could get you out to train my poor baby who has had a bad experience with trailers and now can't go within 20m of one without shaking, pooing, rolling her eyes back and sweating :(



[AeronRiding]

@Trilling0Fong For the right price, I'll go anywhere!!!! : )

[Trilling0Fong]

@AeronRiding Haha i wish! How about New Zealand ;)

[AeronRiding]

@Trilling0Fong Hmmm you're right, that might be a little out of my range!!! : )

[Trilling0Fong]

@AeronRiding I wish haha what about New Zealand ;)

[marianneh66]

I loved this video! It's very usefull and very well explained. Thanks :-)

[ilah2001]

I tried this method to teach mine to load and it really is good. Fortunately with mine he was used to lots of trailers being around and getting loaded and unloaded, so getting him on the ramp was easy. I did teach first to back off the ramp slowly once he was on it so he knew that was how to get off and I got him in surprisigly quick, which wasn't my intention but anyway, he travels well, unloads brilliant too. Cheers for the vid:)

[AeronRiding]

@ilah2001 Thanks!!

[Mavepave]

Yes, ist works! my Mare get after that on the trailer if she do it her live long bevor.

Really thank you for upload that! Otherwise we had to go on our feet to the shows^^

[AeronRiding]

@Mavepave Glad it worked!!

[GoldenLuckyCharm]

Have you studied/ are you kind of using Parelli techniques? I hear you using some of their phrases....

[AeronRiding]

@GoldenLuckyCharm Yes, I have studied with John Lyons, Tom Dorrance, Parelli and many others, and adopted bits and pieces from each of them, plus adding other things I find useful..... it all depends on the horse and what works best for him!

[GoldenLuckyCharm]

@AeronRiding Do you have any advice for a horse that is just flat out stubborn about getting on? He is in no way scared, shows zero agitation once on; he just plants his feet and refuses to move forward, show no interest in any food bribe and trying to encourage from behind just makes him pin his ears and go backward in defiance. I'm out of ideas for him....hes a wonderful horse, just a stubborn mule for getting on a trailer...

[AeronRiding]

@GoldenLuckyCharm Hee hee, yes, been there! Again, keep thinking "Right thing easy, wrong thing difficult".... so make NOT getting on more difficult than getting on (that usually means making them work... even just doing circles is good)... so, circles (work) outside the trailer, rest (good!) inside the trailer. Pretty soon they will look for that trailer and run on to avoid working! Good luck - keep me posted!

[GoldenLuckyCharm]

@AeronRiding Ya, I've been trying that; circles he just seems to keep going and going then when i try to point him at the trailer opening again he goes sideways, maybe I just haven't been persistent enough! To him now avoiding getting on is a game...

[GoldenLuckyCharm]

@AeronRiding Took me a while to respond but I was SHOCKED how well that worked.One LOOONG (2 hour) session of if your not trying to get on the trailer your circling, if you want to stand at the opening and investigate or try to get on you get rest, where he finally got on with me outside the trailer (something he hadn't done in months since he'd started getting stubborn) and the next day i opened the door pointed and he hopped right on! Zero problems since, thank u so much for giving me advice!!

[AeronRiding]

@GoldenLuckyCharm So glad it worked!! Keep up the good work!!! : )

[foxtrottermeg]

this totally works! i did it today with my mare who was starting to get trailer sour because of improper trailer loading techniques used on her in the past (whips and stuff). it was so awesome! stress free, no whips, not pain, she was calm, thinking, and understanding. thanks so much for posting this!

[foxtrottermeg]

@foxtrottermeg i should say that whips used properly are fine, i know, but she was being forced into the trailer before.

[AeronRiding]

@foxtrottermeg You're welcome! Glad it worked! : )

[LaGaBaChaPrinCESSA]

lol the dogs are in most of the scenes...walking through... chasing each other down the road... and good job on teaching the "back out" I am going to attempt to teach my andalusian cross how to load next week... wish me luck

[AeronRiding]

@LaGaBaChaPrinCESSA ...good luck!!

[Justasam]

Your video's technique was a complete success! I posted a video response to 'show' her progress after twp one hour sessions using the method you show in this video. Thanks for posting this! :)

[AeronRiding]

@Justasam Thanks!!! So glad it worked... good for you for keeping at it and doing it right!!! ~Aeron

[mirandamary21]

awesome video great detail .i have a 6 yr appendix qh gelding who loaded fine up til this yr.  i go to load him this spring i finally get him in and he freaked out really bad with pulling back after another person tied him. he snapped the halter before i cud assit.and he sliced his leg. today i tried to load him the most i can get is he put a foot .then he backs out and .he wont move any closer he just plants his feet and refuses to get in.trailer has no ramp,any suggestions???

[AeronRiding]

@mirandamary21 HI... unfortunately, once a horse has had a traumatic experience in the trailer, it will take a lot of time and patience to get him to trust it again. Even longer than teaching them to go in the first time. Be patient, take your time, don't push him to fast.... give him lots of rewards and encouragement, and never lose your temper. You will be rewarded in the end.... they will go back in eventually! Good luck!

[Justasam]

this is awesome!! I'm going to try it tomorrow!

[charlene111985]

I have a horse with serious stubborness issues with loading, we are about 99% sure its not fear, I am going to try your method. Ill post on here and let u know how it goes

[eddymodde]

Great. Hope this helps a lot more horses and people. These principles will work on a lot of issues.

[Syriaca]

@mizzcutegirl94 I would start helping your horse getting over his fear for the whip before working on the trailerloading. I borrowed a horse once that was fearful of the whip. After beeing tought how to work on it we worked a little every day for a week (I'm a beginner) and she was OK with it after that. I'm syre AeronRiding will agree with me? Great wideo by the way!

[AeronRiding]

@Syriaca yep!

[mizzcutegirl94]

my pony wont load and this looks like a great way to try and get him in but he doesnt like whips near his back end due to previous onwers beating him to try and get him into the box. Another thing is after about 1-2 weeks of getting him ok with being in the box, putting the front bar up and crashing around, which he was all fine with, we tried putting the back bar up, which he hated!!! and bolted out backwards under the bar and now can only get him to zone 3. Please can you help me!!?? thanks x

[AeronRiding]

@mizzcutegirl94 keep going back to the point where he's calm and comfortable, and start slowly from there. You are going to have to be extra patient and go extra slowly due to his previous abuse. It may take 100s of times before he is calm and quiet. Never push him too far, or he may regress.... if this happens, just go back to a point where he's calm, and start again. Your patience will pay off, I promise! Good luck.

[AlliBrad1293]

you are now my hero! haha my uncle always told me i need to "man-handle" my pony or force him in! but i went to a couple of parelli shows and the first time i tried your method it worked perfectly!! no force needed! loovvee itt!

[AeronRiding]

@AlliBrad1293 Thank you!!!

[mydigitalcd]

a w e s o m e video ...!!!

[AeronRiding]

@mydigitalcd Thanks!! : )

[snottyxraygirl]

Thank you for posting this!!!! My brother has a mare that does exactly as your filly when near a trailer.I will put this into practice this weekend when transferring his horses to their new home. I was NOT looking forward to this part AT ALL!! God Bless You..

[PonyPerson62]

Ok, i need help. My horse bolts when ever he sees the trailer. The weird thing is, he does it about 10 ft away from it, but once he gets close to it, he walks in no prob, and rides without a fuss. I am SURE the bolting has become a habbit, because he discovered that he can do it any time, and I can't stop him. Tips???

[Dizzibabe]

Thank you so much!! This worked wonderfully for my pony. He had unfortunately had some bad experiences being pushed and prodded into the trailer and wanted nothing to do with it. Using your method, he had himself in the trailer in under an hour and was relaxed while doing so.

[AeronRiding]

@Dizzibabe Glad to hear it! Good work! : )

[Stace1319]

thank you so much for this video, it has really helped. My horse had a very tramatizing experiance and was actually choked by a rope some idiot used with trying to force him into my trailer. It had to cut it off of him. Needless to say I was highIy upset by the way he was treated. After that he wouldn't come close to it. I coaxed him to the opening of it today and I didn't push anymore because of what he had been through. I think trying some of the things in your video could help.

[1213lizzard]

stunning horse!!!

one thing i have noticed (living in australia) we drive on the other side of the road but we still handle the horses forn the near (left) most commonly and unfortunalty this means that we have to load horse in the right hand side of the road to counteract the camber of the road. so when i get horses thay are dead to ofside leading and it makes loading so difficult :P

thaks for the vid!

[DarthJaders13]

My gelding had a horrible accident in my trailer (nearly broke his hip) and i think it's time to get him back in. I really like what you've done with this filly, and i plan on trying it, but what would you do differently with a step-up trailer instead of a ramp load?

[AeronRiding]

Hi, I would do just about everything the same.... get one foot up, then two, then the back feet. It's even more important to let the horse practice coming back off with a step-up... that step back off once they're in can be very scary for them... so let them go in and out a lot at first. Good luck!

[DarthJaders13]

Thank you so much. Hopefully it'll go well.

[IHeartJustinBieber94]

this was great--it shows true horsemanship, and proof that that you dont need to bully your horse into things. Congrats--this video helped alot!!

[twilightfreaks0916]

wow,u r a horse master!! i was with my cousin and her horse,whisper,and we were all going to a show with her barn and whisper kept rearing and bucking when the trailor guy(he was a professional,he trains horses)tryed to get her in!He could not even get her in so we had to give up the show. Oh,and whisper did cut herself while deciding to rear INSIDE the trailor(my cousin took care of her wounds as fast as she could!) so ya,i just wanted to let u know that u do a very good job!

[godolly1]

Wow, you have helped me so much! I am getting ready to move my 14 month old filly. I will have the use of the trailer that will move her on Sat. That should make Sat. much easier.  Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you hold seminars on training or have a DVD made yet?

[AeronRiding]

Yes! I have a DVD that shows the entire process... you can order it on ebay ("Trailer Loading the Difficult Loader") or email me. Thanks!

[KateLovesJumping]

This is such a good video.

But my stables is very small and I don't have anywhere to put a trailer in a feild.. and my mare just runs off the side of the ramp, either side - she picks. And I refuse (much to all my instructors annoyance) to bully her in or use the lunge lines.. i would really really appreciate any help!!

[AeronRiding]

Good for you for not bullying your horse! Is there anywhere you can use, like a parking lot or a ring that you could put the trailer? Just make sure it's a safe place in case she breaks free.... try not to let her go off the side of the ramp. She will just learn this is a way to escape... you must jump up and down, yell, wave your arms, whatever you can to prevent her from doing this. My DVD shows the entire process, which might be helpful. Check on my website. Good luck!

[KateLovesJumping]

Yeah this video has definitely helped a lot -- so when I do it I stand on the same side as you were standing in the video but she just runs off the ramp on the other side? how do i get her to walk straight?

thanks so much!

[AeronRiding]

Try shortening the leadrope a bit, and when you see her start to go off the far side, give her a tug; don't let her go off that way. If she gets away from you and goes off that way, make a big deal about it and get after her. Then relax when she is pointed towards the trailer. Remember, make the "wrong" thing difficult, and the "right" thing easy.

[KateLovesJumping]

thankyou very very much

[Embulbee]

Where are you located and are you available to train a horse to trailer?

[AeronRiding]

I'm in Middleburg, Virginia and happy to help anyone who would like some pointers on trailer loading!

[walyll0]

if you`ll park your trailer inside the pasture with the door open let them get use to it their self...now with that said a goose neck stock trailer works best for this....a bumper pull (stock trailer ) may lift up and roll without anything hooked to it

[Embulbee]

I tried that with my new trailer and it really didn't work. We have a bumper trailer but we put four jacks under each corner so it didn't roll or tilt. My horse is an ex race horse that trailered like a dream last year and this year just decided he wasn't going to and even broke his nose refusing to get on a trailer to go home. We had to trailer him home we were 70 miles from our farm.

[live4jumping]

Great method! I had tried everything, and your method has brought me so close, only one thing my mare will get two feet in the trailer, and immediately dart out even after hours of practice, any pointers?

[AeronRiding]

You have to turn up the volume a little bit when they back out. Make them go back in immediately, then rest. Keep moving the rest spot further in. Don't let them just hang out with the front two feet in, or else they will think that is the rest spot. Keep up the good work!

[babybeaniex]

wow thats amazing thanks so much!!

i had just about given up hope of my pony ever going on!!

just one quick question, how would you suggest introducing the back bar, because she will now stand on hppily, but as soon as i make any movement to confine her in she panics nd bcks stright off again.

also i worry that she will get scared when i open up the door to tie her in their, what should i do??

thanks again!! amzing video!!

[AeronRiding]

break it down into very tiny steps: first, just you move around a little back there, making some noise, but not doing anything (stay in a safe zone)... then, just rattle the bar for a while till she's ok with that... then move around while rattling the bar... see how tiny these steps need to be sometimes? Continue breaking down what you want to accomplish into these tiny steps till she is 100% ok with each one... you'll get there in no time if you take the time to do it right!

[Skiandskate]

That was great that you let people know how long it really takes to do this! I can't count how many impatient people I've seen who think it should only take 10 min. Or the ones who, when the horse gets all 4 feet in zone 2, what it hard with their whip to make it jump in, in essence punishing it for going in. Also good that you mentioned teaching to back up, & not locking them in prematurely. 5 stars!

[AeronRiding]

Thanks!

[Breyerpeep]

WOAH! That trailer is an EXACT replica of my Breyer horse one! Thats cool! lol

[losaguajes]

Congratulations. This is very helpful! We'll try it during the weekend! Thanks.

[6vatana7]

Hi! Thank you for your video. I had big problems in loading my 8 years old angloarab.

I followed your instructions and after two hours he walks in without me in front. We have been training more and now he goes in both ways. Traveling is making him nervous but he still goes to the trailer after a little journey. In the trailer I always have hays and bucket with carrots... Is this something to not to have?

Thanks!

[AeronRiding]

I think hay is fine and even a few carrots is fine too. Just not grain or a lot of cookies/treats. Remember, they go in because you ask them to, not because of the goodies. The goodies are there as a reward only, not a bribe. Sounds like you are doing it right. Keep up the good work!!

[6vatana7]

Thanks! In one phonecall to the previous owner, she suddenly said that the loading has been quite difficult after the accident... What! There was no talkin about this earlier. The horse has had 22 stitches in his head after falling down in the trailer. No wonder we had difficulties... We are now going on slowly.

After looking some more of your videos, Imust say I admire your work much! Great to save these horses to live!

[RyaneC]

great video. i have a gelding who loves to get on an open stock, but has forgotten how to load on a bumper pull (or wants me to think he has, anyway). i plan on using some of your techniques to try again to get him on my 2 horse straight load bumper pull. spent two hours last time when he finally started rearing and i stopped so he wouldnt bust his fool head open. we'll get there! thanks again.

[britnieann]

Hi Aeron, have a question. What do you do about 2-horse trailers without a ramp? I have a feeling that will add an extra element of difficulty. Any pointers? (I have an 18 month old first time loader I'll be training to load in just such a trailer soon)

[AeronRiding]

Hi Britnieann, I would do it the same way, allowing the horse to step up and step back down as many times as he wants to to be comfortable with it. Break it down into small steps and you'll get there in no time!

[coonhunter1973]

You should not leave that front door open,I have seen horses get cut up bad trying to come out of it!

[AeronRiding]

If you read the comments below, you will see that I already addressed that.... large flat panel is in front so horse can't get through.  Thanks for watching....

[imatroll5]

I wish whoever first adopted my mustang would have taught him to back out. He was not started well, at all. I no longer have him, but that's not because he was a bad horse, it's because I was not able to spend the quality time he needed with him. :(

[cowgirl2sassy]

We had a horse named bucky actually bolt right out the escape door, it was very scary, he actually went through and fell out on the ground! without a scratch I might ad

[Romaridge]

Nice work Aeron--your DVD will be so helpful to a lot of folks

[filly4billy2002]

Like how you did that with the filly & explained it all so well. Takes PATIENCE!

Master the 2 horse straight load and every trailer after that one will get easier. :~)

Aeron, do you ever have concerns over that escape door being open? I had one colt try to squirt out thru my open escape door once while teaching him to load. Saw the potential for a huge wreck after that experience. I dunno, maybe you have a good solid bar/panel up front to prevent that from happening?

Just an observation.

[AeronRiding]

Thanks J-dog! LOL : )

Yes, there is a large flat panel up front.... not even a baby could get under it or over it.... plus the middle partition is solid... I hear ya tho, I've seen some bad wrecks with horses trying to squirt out up front..... If I only had a bar or something less solid up front, I would definitely close the door. Good observation!

[filly4billy2002]

J-Dog? That's too funny! ROFL!

Yup, just making a point for your viewers, something for them to consider if they haven't realized this yet.

You might not think a horse could even possibly 'try' that maneuver, but OH YES they can!

Silly horses with suicidal tendencies.

Great work there Aeron. I'm smiling!

[getgorgeousnow]

great job aeron, i even think trailers are a scarry place, dont blame her!!lol like JOe says, u have a great calmness about ya.. be safe

[britnieann]

I LOVE this video, it is extremely well explained and very well done! I cant say enough about it, thank you so much for posting it. I will definitely try this when I teach my yearling to load in a trailer. Great work! ps did I miss vid 10? Cant find it.

[AeronRiding]

Thanks for our kind words!! Ahhhh, video 10..... aka "The Lost Episode"........  no, you're not crazy, I'm still working on it!! : )

[joescolors]

very well explained, good vid, keep up the good work.

[AeronRiding]

Thanks, Joe!